After a mere 3 years and 20 days on this forum I finally have a baby. Yes critiques are welcome and I had such trouble getting the pictures right so if you see flaws I missed point them out. This is Noe from the Lara R.E.A.L. Online Class. I thought I had chosen bigger pictures - Oh well they will load faster.

Thank you so much Carolyn. If he looks good it’s because I’ve been a ‘student’ here on this forum and Lara’s class was great. I’m good at color and detail, but I’m horrible about getting started and getting finished - therefore the 3 years!

I started a La Baby (Sucky Lip) at the same time I started this one and she was going to be my first - but her head is fairly hard and big and I ran out of time to get her rooted and I needed Noe done for the R.E.A.L. contest. It ends tomorrow. I’ll be finishing her later this month - I hope. (Her 1/4 limbs that I painted first on each lesson - do not look good at all). I’m keeping as a ‘how not to’ lesson. I did some 3/4 Beurenger limbs that came out okay.

I’m keeping him. I just love him too much and I named him after family - that makes him impossible to part with.

Oh Foxmom thank you and the sparse look wasn’t intentional. After 28.5 hours I just quit. I used Sugarglidrus mohair and I cut the straight ends off and used them. I was afraid I would run out so I did keep moving over his head. I tried to make it thicker, but I was afraid the vinyl would tear. I did a lot of punches with nothing on the needle. If I did big groups of hair I got clumps so I kept trying to root the few hairs that were sticking out off the little bunch I had. Does everyone get a snarl of loose hairs all sticking in 40 directions and you can’t line them up any more? It sure was messy.

You did a great job–it is amazing that you got that good on your first try. Mine went to the thrift shop! There isn’t a thing to suggest except to enjoy him. He is definitely a “keeper”. Congratulations!!!

Everyone is so sweet thank you. I had a big laugh over a 3 year pregnancy. Also I just turned 63. I let my husband cut the umbilical cord, um I mean, tie wrap around the neck - He’s been so supportive - even cooked so I could root.

By the way folks - I didn’t get the stuffing right, his chest is hallow and his head isn’t floppy enough - so he will be in ‘corrective’ surgery as soon as I get a Doe Suede body made (he’s only got a muslin one now).

Oh Thank you ladies for all your kind words I could just cry and I have to admit I did cry last night. I have a really hard time believing how well he turned out. I hope other people in Lara’s class post here because there are a bunch of beautiful Noes being born because of it.

I think God has just blessed me for all I missed in not having children. I can hardly wait to paint my Michelle. She will be a girl and I hope they will look like twins.

I am painting Stoete’s Audrey for the Peaches and Cream class. I have Lilianne Breedveld’s Suri and Stoete’s Liu for the Asian class.

I am just beginning the class and I am enjoying these new techniques. Her lessons and pictures are easy to see and understand. I’m very impressed with her classes. I hope to take more if I can make the time. Your baby is fantastic!